Sharjah, November 10, 2026: The 13th Sharjah International Library Conference concluded with a strong call for libraries to deepen their presence in community life, expand partnerships with educational institutions and local organisations, and involve users and students more actively in shaping services.
Held from November 7 to 9 at Expo Centre Sharjah, the conference brought together 400 librarians, experts, academics and specialists from 16 countries. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) in collaboration with the American Library Association (ALA) alongside the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair, the event focused on emerging technologies, professional development and the expanding role of libraries in education and society.
Libraries will endure as long as knowledge does
Mansour Al Hassani, Director of Publishing Services at SBA, emphasised that libraries will continue to exist as long as knowledge itself. He said cultural and knowledge institutions have a responsibility to sustain this role by developing services and strengthening libraries’ contribution to education, research and access to knowledge.
“Over three days, the conference sessions, workshops and professional meetings demonstrated that the future of libraries is closely linked to how well they understand and respond to people’s needs, how much they invest in developing their teams and services, and how effectively they build wider relationships with educational and community institutions,” Al Hassani said. “The discussions between librarians and experts also provided practical experiences that can help advance library work.”
He added that the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has established libraries as a central part of the emirate’s cultural project. Guided by this vision and the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, the authority continues to develop professional programmes and strengthen international partnerships.
Responding to everyday community needs
The final day’s sessions underlined the importance of libraries meeting real community needs. In a session titled “Libraries as Critical Infrastructure: How Partnerships, Public Policy, and Community Leadership Build Stronger Communities,” Mastura Muhamad, Director of Selangor Public Library Corporation in Malaysia, stressed that libraries become truly relevant when their services address everyday requirements.
She highlighted Selangor’s transformation of libraries into learning centres and meeting points, including Transit Libraries that offer children safe after-school environments, homework support and practical assistance. “We transform the libraries in order for us to help transform the societies,” she said, pointing to the value of supportive public policy and partnerships with NGOs, educational institutions and local communities.
In another session, “From Library to Knowledge Hub: Transforming a School Library Through Student Leadership,” Dana Ikhlef, Head Librarian at Al-Awael Bilingual School in Kuwait, presented initiatives such as Knowledge Week and Library Ambassadors. She explained how involving students increased engagement and helped reposition the school library as an active learning hub that combines technology with human interaction.
Peer learning and practical insights
The Knowledge Café provided a dedicated space for professional dialogue, covering nine topics including community engagement, digital libraries, school library transformation, artificial intelligence, data and scholarly research, information security, teaching, academic libraries, and literacy and reading.
Alan Jacques, Library Consultant and Founder of Beyond Books in Dubai, shared insights from two years of conversations with award-winning international school librarians. Ahmed Rabia, Librarian at Al Ittihad Private School Jumeirah in Dubai, examined how digital platforms and assessment data can match books to students’ reading levels and interests.
The final day also featured a poster session showcasing best practices, certificate distribution and networking opportunities between publishers and librarians.
The conference reinforced the message that libraries remain vital when they stay responsive to people’s needs, invest in their teams, embrace technology thoughtfully, and build strong partnerships with the communities they serve.
